Criticisms

• Functionalism:

  
  

  • Ignores negative experiences that some pupils have at school.
  • Theory assumes that the education system is beneficial for everyone.
  • There may not be a single set of values to pass on
  • Society consists of different groups with different interest
  • Each with their own set of values
• Marxism:

  
  

  • Assume that pupils have no real ability to make their decisions or control over what happens to them
  • Focuses on social class and doesn't consider other factors that may affect educational achievement e.g. gender and ethnicity
  • Focuses on negative aspect and doesn't consider positive functions of education
• Feminism:

  
  

  • Some feminists have failed to acknowledge a change in society e.g. the relative success of girls educationally in recent years.
  • Feminists focus on women's positions in society rather than considering the role of men and women in society.